Our focus is on jobs, growth: Gillard

Date: February 05 2013

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has avoided putting a timetable on the likelihood of returning the budget to surplus.

In the first question of the parliamentary year, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott asked the prime minister when the government expected to produce a budget surplus having announced that a 2012/13 surplus was now unlikely.

Ms Gillard said there had been a further writedown in revenues from what was expected by treasury.

"It needs to be accounted for, obviously by the government, but it also needs to be accounted for by the opposition if it wants to be taken seriously in any sort of economic debate," Ms Gillard told parliament.

She said the government would maintain a focus on jobs and economic growth.

"What we will do is continue our proud track record of creating jobs and opportunities for working Australians," she said.

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